Skunk Tracks

Identifying Skunk Tracks

Already recognizable due to their black and white fur and their distinct odor, skunks can also leave behind quite a few other identifiers that alert home and property owners to their presence. One telltale sign is finding tracks in the snow, dirt, or mud around the property.

Distinct-looking due to their five-toed appearance with noticeable claw marks on both the fore and hind feet, skunk tracks can easily be confused with those of the common house cat. Since cats can retract their claws, identifying footprints as skunk tracks is typically easy to do. The hind track shows a distinct heel pad and is usually between two and two and a half inches in length.

Other Signs of Skunk Infestation

In addition to noticing tracks, home and property owners can detect a skunk infestation in a variety of other ways. For instance, skunks are notorious diggers. The omnivorous pests dig in order to find sources of food as well as to create new denning sites. Skunks can dig under building slabs, which in turn can cause structural damage over time.

A musky odor can lead people to believe they have a skunk problem, but this may not always be the case, as skunk smell can travel across great distances. Fresh droppings found wherever the skunk is feeding or denning may also indicate the presence of a skunk problem.